Keynote Speakers - Asia For Animals Borneo 2015 International Conference

words: Dave Avran, images: Veronica Ng 

Alan Knight OBE BSc (Hons)

Alan Knight is the Chief Executive of International Animal Rescue (IAR). He graduated from Sussex University with an Honours degree in Biological Sciences. He has devoted his life to animal welfare and was originally the Chairman of the trustees of IAR before resigning to take up a full time position with the Charity in 1999.

Alan lives in Sussex, UK, with his life-long partner Liz who runs a sanctuary from their home for unwanted and elderly cats. Alan is a trustee of several other charities including being Chairman of British Divers Marine Life Rescue an organisation that provides a rescue service for marine wildlife in the UK.

Alan was awarded an OBE in the 2006 Queens Birthday Honours for services to animal welfare.

At AfA Borneo 2015, Alan spoke frankly and from his heart as he presented his Keynote Address titled, 'Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation'.

Jill Robinson, MBE Dr med vet hc         

Jill Robinson has been a pioneer of animal welfare in Asia since 1985 and is widely recognised as the world’s leading expert on the cruel bear bile industry, having campaigned against it since 1993. In 1998, she founded Animals Asia, an organisation that is devoted to improving the welfare of animals in China and Vietnam by promoting compassion and respect for all animals, and working to bring about long-term change.

Jill has built the organisation into a respected international NGO with over 300 staff, over 530 rescued bile farm bears, and award-winning bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam.

Jill presented in a very moving and personal manner on ‘Animal Welfare through People Welfare”, successfully making many delegates teary eyed during her talk.

Dato' Sri Lord Dr Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, Earl of Cranbrook

The Earl of Cranbrook‘s work in Sarawak and Malaysia spans almost 60 years. He is currently the Honorary Curator of Mammals at the Sarawak Museum as well as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Institute of Biology, the Linnean Society and the Zoological Society.

In 2014, the Earl received the prestigious ‘Merdeka Award for Outstanding Contribution to the People of Malaysia’ for his outstanding contribution in pioneering research and conservation of Malaysia’s forest biodiversity and the ecology and biology of Malaysian mammals and birds, and for advocating environmental conservation.

Today, he is widely recognised as the foremost expert on the natural history of mammals on Borneo. Lord Cranbrook presented a Keynote Address titled, 'The long history of people and the wild mammals of Borneo: an archaeological perspective'. 

He made the subject of dry bones sound fascinating and his experience as a speaker shone when he deftly used classic dry British humor to counter a technical glitch while his laptop was being frantically fixed by tech support. 

Datuk Torstein Dale Sjøtveit, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Energy delivering his keynote address.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh announcing the allocation of land to the SSPCA.

Honorable Mention

pic nicked from Kathy's fb

Frigglive would like to give a big shout out to Singaporean Kathy Xu, Founder of The Dorsal Effect, who strives to provide a source of alternative livelihood for shark fishermen in Lombok through ecotourism for shark conservation.

She casually mentioned to us that she had to leave early on Saturday 10^th October as she was getting married the next day. On Monday 12^th Oct she was back at work. How’s that for dedication? Congratulations, Kathy & Wilson. We wish you all the very best in your future.

For more details on the AfA2015 speakers, click here

For more details on the topics covered at AfA 2015, click here